Permanent Obscurity: Or a Cautionary Tale of Two Girls and Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography and Death

by Richard Pérez

PERMANENT OBSCURITY: Or a Cautionary Tale of Two Girls
and Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography and Death by Dolores Santana (as told to Richard Perez)

* A youthful bohemian satire,
* a story of alienated nonconformists,
* a "girls on the lam" story,
* a sexploitation and S/M romp,
* a spoof of cult celebrity and "true-life" tabloid sensationalism:

PERMANENT OBSCURITY

Inspired by the underground sexploitation films of the 1960s, this bold updating of the "roughie" subgenre and lampoon of auteur filmmaking largely takes place in New York City's East Village (circa the Bush era), and it chronicles the rise and fall of a unique and intense relationship. Dolores and Serena, two chemically dependent, down-and-out artists set out to take control of their lives by making a fetish-noir/femdom movie. Of course, things don't exactly turn out as planned.

Genres: Fiction, Drugs, LGBT, Sexuality, Erotica, Contemporary

464 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Initially published small literary magazines, Richard Perez has also written for The New York Times (a newspaper he doesn't read). His first novel, The Losers' Club (aka: The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edition) has three foreign translations to date: Korean, Turkish, Italian. PERMANENT OBSCURITY: or a Cautionary Tale of Two Girls and Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography, and Death -- his second novel -- also reflects his infatuation with bohemia and willful nonconformists.

Reviews

[Oriana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh man, I didn't mean to cause such a stink with this.

Here is the story: the author sent me his book & asked me to review it. I didn't like the book and gave it a bad review, but I also offered to take down said review if the author wished. I mean, shit, I didn't like the book, but I do like books in general, and I respect someone who is working to push his own book, and clearly I'm just not the right audience for this book, and surely there are lots of people who are the right audience, and I don't want to make it less likely that they will buy the book. Also most of the reasons I didn't like the book are that I am kind of a bitch and also a snob about books -- no one called me those things but me. They are true things, and I'm okay with that.

Anyway, I took down the review. Then I got testy so I put it back, way down somewhere in the comments (#34), so if you really want to see it, you can. But please don't let me being a snob keep you from buying this book. Richard's a nice guy, so far as I can tell, and I don't want to cause him any pain. For real.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facesitting. That's what this book is about. No lie. Well, it's about more than that. Maybe friendship. And betrayal. And BDSM. And Drugs. The story of Permanent Obscurity is the recounting of a "relationship." That being between Dolores and Serena, two drug abusing women (who often behave like teenagers) and get into trouble over drug money. Perez, the author, writes well: something like a cross between Quentin Tarantino and Hunter S. Thompson. Like Tarantino, his narrative is dialogue heavy, much of it sarcastic and loaded with expletives, which might turn off many. It struck me in reading it -- how cinematic it is and how it would make a great film, with one scene wheeling madly into the next, underscoring the characters insane plummet toward disaster. Though the BDSM or "female domination" content may turn a lot of people off, I found it incredibly funny and in many ways original.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the best "outsider" book I've read in the last year. The two girls remind of friends of mine in the arts -- who couldn't hold down regular jobs, so did some stripping to make ends meet. Sounds like a desperate thing to do? Have you ever been in the arts? So, instead of dirty dancing, these characters try another scam: the femdom or "female domination" stuff, taking out ads on Craigslist, etc. Why does this book ring so true to life? It's really good. I mean, the characters are realistic so that means that at times, they're repugnant. And the story of the novel is something I enjoyed. In the end, it's less about kink, and more about trying to maintain your integrity in a world that doesn't allow it. I highly recommend it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was really entertaining! I'm glad I purchased it -- after Amazon recommended it to me based on my shopping history. Essentially it’s a tabloid story of two mixed up East Village artists -- or wannabe artists -- who fall in way over their heads. What’s to blame? Drugs. It seems they’ve pissed off one to many people with unpaid tabs and now they find themselves in deeper and deeper hot water. They set out to make a female domination movie that will pay back their debt, but these two characters can’t seem to do a single thing right -- so just guess how that turns out! And just when you think things can’t get any worse -- guess what? They do!

The way the author builds the tension and layers the story is impressive. What makes the book so much fun to read is the vulgar protagonist, Dolores. She’s a mixed up, impulsive, foul-mouthed loose cannon; but her friend Serena may even be worse. Going to the author’s website mentioned in the back of the book -- I can see the references to Thelma & Louise and other “bad girl” movies, like Heavenly Creatures.

It’s a big novel -- around 450 pages -- but it reads super fast, and this is largely to do with the writing, which is very simple and reminiscent of the gritty writings of Charles Bukowski. The characters are really well drawn too. And the behavior of these characters is unexpected and pretty wild.

So this book is highly recommended. I just finished it and I already feel like reading parts of it again. A+

Other recent books I recommend? Post Office by Charles Bukowski and The Fuck-Up by Arthur Nersessian.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serena may owe me money, too! Haha! What a great story! I had a copy printed so it was difficult to read and at sometimes uncomfortable, but I didn't care! I couldn't stop reading! I wished I had a hard copy to give to my best friend because there were so many times where I said "wow that's me and her."
It felt like anyone could have known these girls (Dolores & Serena), maybe went to high-school with them. Their wild experiences made me hungry for more and I stayed up way too late a few nights reading. A few times in the story I got upset with Dolores, like when she had the check from Raymond. I mean she was so broke and all, making a porno for God sake and she couldn't have just took the check?! I couldn't help but squirm when she was doing all those drugs and junk while being pregnant. I know a lot of people who would have a heart-attack if they read this. I also want to somehow smack her when she was craving for meat and she had to shoplift for it. She kept going on and on about MEAT MEAT MEAT. Haha.
So everyone loved Serena, especially Dolores. I was surprised at the innocent love turned sexual obsession. I knew eventually Dolores would get hurt by Serena's games. Their "sexual friendship" kinda freaked me out. It was just wow.
I could see this as being a true story. I could see Serena and Dolores walking down my street right now arguing and playing. This really would make a cool movie. I loved it! <3

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book that a good little Catholic girl should be reading but here I am and, my poor mother's heart, I loved it! It's absolute fun and written in that sense, not as a heavy- find -the- meaning- of- life novel. Admittedly it is full of sex, weed, alcohol and more sex but in a world as tough as this one, curling up and allowing the "bad girl" inside to come out and putting Ms. Prude away provides some much needed relaxation.
Again, not for those that want some vanilla erotica. This is the hard stuff but in a fun way. ( )

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Permanent Obscurity is written in the "as told by" style, which was perfect for the dark, psychosexual themes of the book. The author's disclaimer of vulgarity is accurate, but fully in keeping with the the story as it unfolds. Set in the East Village of NYC, Dolores Santana and Serena Moon are two chemically-dependent, struggling artists whose lives are spiralling out of control. Dolores is a photographer with a lot of skill but little ambition and motivation beyond scoring her next high. Serena is a musician whose career just doesn't take off in the direction that she believes it should. With their careers and relationships a wreck and quickly running out of money, the two girls decide that making a "femdom" movie starring Serena is the answer to their financial and personal woes. But things go horribly wrong.

With complete honesty, I did not know what to expect with this book. It is absolutely different from anything I have ever read. Judging from the author's notes, I wondered if this would be more erotica than anything else. But it most definately was not erotica. It is a raw and gritty story, and instead of being gratuitous, the vulgarity is an integral part of the story. Although completely outside of my own life experiences, the stories of the two women, particularly Dolores, were gripping and surprisingly relatable in a lot of ways. The imagery used is graphic and real and you felt as if you were a part of the story as it unfolded. Yes, parts of the book were more than a little uncomfortable, but that is exactly how it should have been. This is not a feel good book, but it does explore some very real issues. I did not expect to enjoy it, but I really did.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a weird novel! In a lot of ways -- mainly because of the "fetish" sexual content -- this is one of the strangest novels I ever read, and yet I only feel that now, after some distance from having enjoyed it.
While I was reading it, the material wasn't that weird at all, and maybe this is because we enter the perverted little world of Dolores and Serena, and while we're inside we feel and see things as they do.
This is a great book. Not "great" in the classic literature sense (obviously this is not Jane Austin); great because it's really fun. It's fun and raunchy and fast (despite its length); and I felt the male author did a great job in entering the heads of his highly unstable female protagonists. These are street girls, and they talk tough and rough and think like that. In the course of the book, Dolores and Serena take a no-prisoners approach to making a kind of porno flick that will save their necks. The tension is maintained by antagonists (aka drug dealers), who keep showing up demanding their money. And things get more and more desperate as the story goes on. It's Serena who has a major coke problem, while Dolores's addiction is weed. Together they create this dysfunctional team hellbent on getting this (extremely misguided) project done. This novel, in tone and execution, reminds me of the movie SID & NANCY or maybe KIDS (though the Perez book is actually funny). If you can stomach this kind of "cautionary tale" -- then I recommend it. (Purchased my off Amazon-with the new John Waters book-and got free shipping.)

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wild inner city adventure! I normally don't read these type of books, but then I thought why not I might actually enjoy it. Enjoy it I did! It reminded me of the movie Freeway due to the weirdness of it. When I say weird I mean a fun kind of weird that you don't easily find in books.
Dolores Santana and her best friend Serena Moon are as close as close can be. So when Serena ends up owing money to a lot of different people for her favorite street product Dolores is right by her side ready to help her out no matter what the consequences might be.
Together they come up with the perfect idea to bring in the money and pay off all of Serena's debt. A lot of problems arise and I did actually giggle a couple of times. Steak and slapping need I say more! But the story wasn't all fun and silliness it also had a dark side to it. How could it be weird otherwise! If your looking for something different and not sure what to read, I would recommend this book!

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two friends living in the East Side Village of NY, struggling to survive in America, the country often called 'the land of opportunity.' This book opened my eyes on so many levels. A gut-wrenching story at times and a bit wild, it drew me in from the very first page and I just could not seem to put it down. Even though some of the main characters' experiences were a bit different from mine, in an odd way, there were some ties I could relate to, or understand where they were coming from. And the ending was unexpected, and left me in shock. I recommend this book only to those 18+ probably, mainly because of the sexually explicit content of this book. All in all, a very good read.

[Bookventures Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Permanent Obscurity is not for squeamish readers as the content is adult and thought provoking. In Permanent Obscurity, Richard Perez has opened up a whole different world unknown to us; one wrapped up in sex, pornography and drugs. The book is not just about porn but it is grounded in several themes such as loyalty and friendship and it even takes a jab at sensationalism in the media and the ills of a capitalist society. The tile is really appropriate when you think about it since Perez is examining the world of underground artists. That subject is pretty obscure and to a large extend suffers from the old case of stereotypes. Yet Perez brings it to life, albeit in a funny, cynical way through his main characters Serena and Dolores.

The story is told in first person by Delores Santana, a young woman who is a non conformist and is constantly angry with the world. Having the story told in first person with the allure that Dolores is confessing to the author really lent itself to making the story very realistic. The writing style is short quick prose that also made the story move along a lot faster than most books. There is also an element of suspense to the novel that really impressed me. As the reader you’re watching the chain of events playing out thinking to yourself, something bad is going to happen but it never occurs to you what that bad thing might be until it is finally revealed.

I loved the banter between the characters. It’s what you would imagine people with that type of mind set would say. The characters themselves are equally as dynamic and they are the ones that really made the story more than just about sex, pornography and drugs.

Don’t raise your eyebrows too much if I say I would definitely read this book again. It’s really an unpredictable story with a cast of characters that I really enjoyed reading about and i am looking forward to hearing more of Richard Perez.

[Kathy Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

PERMANENT OBSCURITY: Or a Cautionary Tale of Two Girls and Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography and Death by Dolores Santana (as told to Richard Perez)


While this type of genre is way beyond what I would normally read, I was asked to do a review by the author and so agreed. WARNING: Adult content, sex and drug-use!

I was pleasantly surprised! The story is captivating and interesting. It is presented in a way that delves into the minds of people who follow this lifestyle, yet is "tame" enough for readers who might be interested but never exposed to this subject matter before.

It tells the tale of two young women who are into the fem-dom lifestyle and who are desperately trying to not only make ends meet financially but who are trying to figure out who they are and what their place in life is. It barrels through many of their experiences on a daily basis and their thoughts about where they are going. You become quite attached to them and want them to succeed, but also agonize with them over the difficulties they face. Life is tough for everyone, and how you handle it can make all the difference, good or bad, as you'll see in this book. Sometimes you try your best, based on what you know, how you were raised, etc and things never quite turn out exactly how you plan them.

This is not erotica, not politically correct in any way, shape or form, but when is real life the way it "should" be?

I do recommend this book for anyone who has had a friend who you love dearly, but just flat out won't listen to advice, for anyone who has struggled with not only daily living, but trying to make it in the world and who might have an "off-beat" idea to deal with rent, food and living expenses.

Just be careful of how you put your ideas into action....as you'll see with these girls...you just never know how it will turn out!

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Dolores and Serena end up down and out and owing money to damn near everyone, they conspire to make a fetish video for cash. Only things start falling apart immediately...

I gave this book a shot since Richard Perez seemed like a cool guy, especially for a Goodreads Author. Plus he said it was a sexploitation book, sexploitation being right behind blaxploitation as my favorite type of exploitation genre. I wasn't disappointed.

This book was definitely a page turner. Perez did a good job keeping Serena's true character in the dark for much of the book. There was some erotic things going on and it gave a window into fetish/femdom culture. The suspense built as more and more people wanted Dolores and Serena dead and by the end, I didn't know if our girls would survive.

So why only a 3? Well, the book was a little long for what it was. If there were 75-100 less pages, it would have been an easy 4 and probably would have made a good Hard Case original. Also, there wasn't as much smut or potentially offensive material as I was lead to believe. I was expecting people getting cucumbers shoved into orifices and depravity of that nature. Warren Ellis's Crooked Little Vein had a tons more shocking material and was about half the size, as was Christa Faust's Money Shot.

Permanent Obscurity is a good read if a little too long and a little short on filth. I'd recommend it to people who enjoyed Crooked Little Vein or The Money Shot.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Artists in Hell." Or "Would-be Filmmakers in Hell" That could be the title of this book, because it's really about trying "to make it" in the arts and failing spectacularly. This darkly funny novel follows the antics of Dolores (our narrator) and Serena, as they try to "get it together," overcome their addictions and make a perverted film to get creditors off their backs. And let me tell you THIS BOOK IS A WILD TRIP! I mean, I would not recommend this to my mother or anyone over the age of 30, cause I know they wouldn't get it. Introduces the word "femdom" into my vocabulary, in a funny way. But a very entertaining read. And I laughed out loud quite a bit! Highly recommended if you have a sick and dark -- very dark -- sense of humor. The author has a very interesting personal website, I might add: RichardPerez.net

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all the books in this style I've picked up over the years. this one has delivered exactly what I expected of it. It is a deliciously seedy romp of a tale, well written and with characters that, while you may not relate to them, you certainly enjoy reading about.

A very festive read!

[Liza Ans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Permanent Obscurity

Permanent Obscurity: Or a Cautionary Tale of Two Girls and
Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography and Death
Author: Richard Perez
Published by Ludlow Press
ISBN: 978-097134154-8

Reading the title of the book…at first left me a bit shaky. “AM I FINALLY GOING TO BE heaving into EROTICA FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT unreal WRITING ABOUT JUST SEX”? But I love myself for giving Permanent Obscurity a try because Richard Perez brings and delivers this impressive 'cautionary tale' beautifully. Despite the fact that it does contain explicit substance in the tome; this character motivated scheme of the plot held my attention from the beginning to end. Heck, the drugs, pornography and death are what make this book so gripping to read.
This book is mainly what the title presents, “A Cautionary Tale of Two Girls and Their Misadventures with Drugs, Pornography and Death.” It's a dark comedy about the difficulties relationships go through and the rhetorical question about Fame over Infamy. It’s about two girls, Dolores Santana and her best friend Serena Moon whom when one of them ends up in dept for her favourite street product, the other stays by her side and together, they brainstorm the just the right idea to fetch in the green and be free of the debts. However, not all good things last and soon, they go into tunnel from which both of them cannot escape from.
What I find so great about this book is the way that the characters are developed and presented. Believe me, there are a few books that leave me hanging “Um…was he really supposed to be doing that or am I just reading crap now” kind of a feeling. I believe characters make books possible and this one just made me grip tight on it because the characters were very plausible and realistic. I’m no “Dolores” (one the main characters in Permanent Obscurity) but reading about her just makes you feel like your crawling under her skin, actually feeling her very emotions to the depth of actually coming out of your comfort zone and wanting to help her.
My only (short) complaint is the draggy 2/3 of the ending. It was an incredible read but I feel it could’ve been “shorter” near the end. But anyhow, out of all the books in this style I've picked up over the years, this one has delivered exactly what I expected of it. I finally understand the idiom "don't judge a book by its cover" because you should never. It is a deliciously seedy romp of a tale, well written and with characters that, while you may not relate to them, you certainly enjoy reading about. This is a feisty must read that leave you feeling unforgettable.

[Patrick O'Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once went out with a Puerto Rican girl from New York City. She was loud, obnoxious, pushy, overbearing, and hot as hell. I had to be in the right mood when I was with her. If I wasn't feeling good, like if I was depressed, it was really hard to hang. Her comebacks, snappy retorts, loud mouth, and the constant need to put everybody else down was, at times, too much. Unfortunately, I was depressed a lot in those days and it wasn't easy and eventually we broke up and went our separate ways. And no, I'm not telling you all this cause I want sympathy, or feel the need to divulge my past indiscretions. Nor am I trying to incur the wrath of every female New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent. No, I only mention it because the whole time I was reading Richard Perez's Permanent Obscurity, I was listening to the voice of his protagonist/narrator, Dolores Santana, and I was hearing my ex-girlfriend. Maybe it's New York. Maybe it’s the culture – I don't know? But Perez got it down like it ain't no thing. And yeah, the inside page claims Ms. Santana told Perez the story – but the book's listed as fiction. Whatever. Either way Perez appears to know, or at least understand, his characters. He nails The Lower Eastside. He plays with tension, and gets sick with the dialogue. He got hella sex and drugs and dysfunctional relationships. What more could you ask for?

My only major complaint is that it's too damn long. I got tired at the end. And I shouldn't be getting tired at the end. Shit's jumping off and going crazy – there's retribution, dead bodies, car chases, guns and... Well, I don't want to ruin it for anyone. But I really think he could've trimmed it down by fifty pages or more and it would've been tight as hell.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I tell you that it has very graphic pornography and drug use, you'll just shrug and say, "Seen it before." and pick it up and start reading. About 75 pages in, you'll come up for air, and need either a cigarette, or a strong shot of something, depending on your vice! All I know is I thought I knew what I was getting into, but then again, so did Dolores and Serena, and boy did it get pear-shaped for them!

This is a tale that starts out as a mis-adventure of two young girls in New York City just trying to scrape by, and have a little fun. It swiftly starts getting away from them, as they carom off the street thugs and dealers they try to hustle to make their porno film work.

It turns from black comedy into sheer train-wreck, and you can't tear your eyes away from it. You know nothing is going to end well. It's like coming up on an accident along the road, when you can see the three ambulances and the fire truck from a half mile back. You know it has got to be horrific, but you can't help looking for all the gruesome bits. In the same fashion, I wanted to put the book down, but I just couldn't!

All in all a great, if very graphic, read! I recommend, but only if you can take all the gritty details of life on the streets in modern New York City.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I wasn't sure I could read a book like this. But I was wrong. I actually really enjoyed it.

The plot starts off as intriguing: Dolores wants to be an artist (a photographer) but that won't pay the bills so she works a dead-end job as a temp. You almost feel sorry for her.
Then, as she blames everyone but herself for her problems, you just start to hate her. The plot takes off when she and Serena (another failed artist) decide to make their movie. After a certain point, I couldn't put the book down as things go from bad to worse. They get into one bad situation after another. And their solution? Get high and lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want.
Its a long book (over 400 pages) and most of it is Dolores whining about how her life sucks. But it helps to shape her character and her view of the world.

I would only recommend this book to anyone whose comfortable to violent sexuality, drugs, and A LOT of cursing. As long as you're fine with that, its a very good book.

[Patti Hanes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, nasty, and fun. A page turner. I enjoyed the style, and the short chapters. Dolores, the main character, is hilarious but foul-mouthed. I mean, if the "c" word offends you, the "b," the "f" word -- you'll hate it, but actually it's very realistic; I know girls who talk just like this. This is very much a black comedy. Dolores and Serena are losing control of their lives so they promise to make a fetish-type movie ("female domination" movie) to get money, but what this does to their friendship and their lives is what this book is about -- that and the futility of "art." Vulgar book, but if you're unafraid of John Water's style filthiness (harking back to Pink Flamingos) -- then by all means read this novel! A+

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a tragicomedy indeed. Very raw in its power. I cracked up laughing and cried in many moments when I read this book. You really feel as if the characters are alive. I start to wonder if this book is a true story or not, its so believable! Dolores tells the story of her life when she meets Serena and their adventures together to survive in this harsh world. The supporting characters are ones that I personally would love to meet (Raymond and Baby). Even though the language is a bit vulgar, it adds to the personality of the characters and does not detract from the book. Overall, this is a damn, good book! What an experience indeed!

[m &#x1f3ac;genXstasy&#x1f576;️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~blurb~

"My blood. Hot and red." When Permanent Obscurity's protagonist, Dolores, makes this statement, we're not sure just which source of blood she's referring to. Ready-made for Roger Avary or Robert Rodriguez, Richard Perez takes us on a blackly comedic romp that will have us laughing, gagging and crying in mostly equal measure as we frenetically turn the pages. Thanks for not pulling those punches, Mr. Perez; New York noir hasn't tasted this fresh in years.

~full review~

"You better recognize this fact. People are complicated." -- Dolores

Ah, Mr. Perez. I began Permanent Obscurity, my very first Richard Perez read, with a sort of jaded hopefulness; there must be hundreds of writers of post-90s, post-Giuliani noir in NYC alone. As a minor armchair connoisseur of hip-noir fiction and film, I've been subjected to many; “derivative” is a kind work; “sucks,” more apt.

I was not heartened by the first few pages. They were redolent of the same kind of faux-gritty first-person dialog you can find easily in any fiction section in your local indy bookstore; I thought I was in for a disjointed, self-indulgent romp involving predictable sex and crimes of passion at the hands of Serena and Dolores, the book's 20-something main characters. The fact is, having finished the book, I still don't know whether the played verbiage at the beginning was on purpose, versus Perez trying too hard. It didn't really matter by page 10, though. Somehow, I was suddenly on the fast-track to being hooked. Whether it was my sudden, mild sexual arousal, the deepening complexity of the characters, or the addictive, stream-of-consciousness prose, I'm not sure. So, after having lamented just minutes earlier that the book was going to perhaps be mediocre at best, I was on page 169 – how the hell did i get there?

"We need to acknowledge our own selfishness, too, and get it over with. Repeat after me: I am selfish, I am cruel." -- Dolores

For one thing, I was delighted that a male author could grok a woman's POV so handily. All 20-something women are insane (this included me). We're too young to know how to use our sexuality, and we're still experiencing the last vestiges of adolescence; too sexy for our own, insecure goods. No honest female has ever not been guilty of the kind of scenario that Dolores Santana, the book's protagonist and narrator, speaks of when she laments, “And, without even trying, I found a million ways to hurt him... we need to acknowledge that, ok? Acknowledge our inner bitch.” On the very next page, Perez describes the relationship between Serena and Dolores over the course of about 12 hours: “And I went so far as to smash a framed portrait of Serena,” Dolores informs us, “one that I took at CBGB, on the Bowery. The next day Serena called me, and we went shopping together.”

An area of improvement for Perez may lie in smoother transitions involving the fun, if horrifying, coincidences that are a hallmark of noir. I've been to NYC for concerts and shopping (and street food; let's be honest) over the years, but have never lived there; I began thinking, “Hey, maybe people do constantly run into random acquaintances multiple times per day!” Many of the “chance meetings” could have done with a bit more lube – uh, back-story.

"It's just a game. Be cruel. Have fun!" -- Serena

I was a little disappointed as I began noticing that no female character had any sort of depth, or developed sense of morality; the women, all knee-jerk, emotional egoists -- from Dolores' mamma, to Serena's ex-lover, to Dolores' ex-boyfriend's new flame, and others in-between. Nothing says a story has to involve at least one great female; but, being too analytical for my own good, I began to wonder if Perez' personal feelings towards women were showcased, inadvertently. In fact, Perez lead me on until the end of the book, when lots of cool things came together to give us our dubious denouement; we do have female redemption, I'm happy to report. (Don't worry, though – you'll still get your unsettling ending!)

"Well, for fuck's sake, we may have to saw it off!" -- Serena

The end of the book contained portions that were as fun as the most effective black comedy noir film; think Killing Zoe, Curdled, Very Bad Things, House of Yes; loved it! What a romp. These scenes were almost as awesome as Mr. Perez making introductions between the word “clitsy,” and myself.

"She must've used 500 feet of nylon recycling twine, which, for some reason, reminded me of spider's silk." -- Dolores

So... just what's the book about? Like any good noir, the cover and back-blurb are all you need to know, my precious. Enjoy. ;) {{goes to download Bound}}

"My blood. Hot and red" -- Dolores

Craving papas rellenos,
m

[Bonnie Rock Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not 'put off' by the graphic sexual content in this book. Infact, given the nature of the characters, it all made sense and it gave you more of an understanding of the main characters, Serena and Dolores. What made this book so enjoyable and the plot so realistic is the complexity of all the characters. They brought the book to life and gave it substance. This is the kind of book where you can really get into indepth discussions analyzing the characters.

My thoughts on Dolores was, yes, she was a nonconformist. She was told how talented she was by many people and had choices, yet she chose to do nothing with her life. Was that because of her drug use? Was she lazy? Was she afraid of selling out? Or did it have more to do with the negative influence of her bestfriend Serena? Although, Dolores used drugs, she did refrain from them at certain times and as negative as she was, she did have a heart. She had empathy towards certain people and the baby she was carrying. In the beginning, she loved Serena. She got very jealous when Serena spent more time around other people. Perhaps Serena is the reason why she wouldn't take Raymond back? The outcome of this book could have been avoided entirely if Dolores had cashed the check that Raymond had given her. That would have paid off all the people Serena "beat", but she chose to follow Serena instead. Maybe she thought her and Serena could have a future together? Towards the end of the book though, she came to her senses and realized Serena wasn't who she thought she was, but by then it was too late. Some of Delores's negativity could have been a result of her age. She was young. Had a lot to learn about life (even though she may have thought she knew it all). If drugs and Serena weren't in Dolores's life, I think she could have had a good chance at becoming somebody.

Serena, on the other hand, no way!! She didn't strike me as a nonconformist for artistic reasons (like Dolores). She was a drug addict. She not only used drugs, but people too. It was obvious that she didn't have real feelings for Dolores. (She proved that in the end by selling her out). When given a choice, she chose to be with people who could provide her with drugs (Dolores lacked the funds). Had she known about Raymond's check, she would have talked Dolores into cashing it and spending it all on coke. She was also a liar. She never told the whole truth about stuff. There was also a lot of things that she did, but wouldn't admit to. I don't think there was much she wouldn't do, but acted the opposite so no one saw how pathetic she really was and how low she would go to get drugs. Selena was also very sneaky. She hid many things from Dolores. Im not even sure if Serena was really into "femdom". I think Baby was and because Baby could provide many things to Serena, she conformed to meet his needs to keep him around.

I don't think Serena impacted Baby negatively. I think Baby had very deep psychological issues that could only be resolved with therapy. As for Raymond, he loved Dolores. Yeah, he wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side when "barbie" came along, but he realized his mistake. I think with a little AA he could have made a nice husband to Dolores.

This book was worth the read. The characters mentioned above brought the story to life. It dosn't have a happy ending and the main character's are plagued with one dissappointing set back after another, but then again, so is real life, which is what this book is modeled after.

[Jason Pettus · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

You hear it all the time from people who have actually worked in the film industry, that given all the complicated steps and perpetual nightmares that come with making a movie, it's a wonder that any get produced at all; or at least that's what I kept thinking about when reading Richard Perez's delightfully wicked new novel Permanent Obscurity, a gonzo fairytale of sorts about two girls in New York's Lower East Side during the Rent years (part-time artists, occasional dominatrixes, sometimes lovers, full-time trainwrecks) who decide one day that their ticket out of their mounting drug bills is to produce and star in their own S&M fetish porn film, then spend the rest of the novel proving just what a challenging concept this is for two Eminem-listening "gangstas" with no formal training, little innate intelligence, and using stolen half-broken equipment, the plot deepening even more when they accidentally kill their hired submissive in the middle of shooting, accidentally creating the world's first face-sitting snuff film and suddenly having to deal with all the ridiculous consequences that such a development suggests. In fact, about my only complaint with Perez's piece of bizarro erotica is that it's not over-the-top enough; he has a tendency to waffle between an out-and-out gonzo tale and a semi-realistic look at the hardships of being a struggling big-city artist, creating a sometimes inelegant hybrid that ultimately fails to please either type of fan. Still, though, there's a lot to like about this book, if like me you enjoy transgressive sexual tales full of deliberate self-deprecating humor, and peppered with scenes of such graphic disgust that you can't help but start laughing over their sheer explicitness; you people know who you are, and to you I recommend checking out this "Thelma and Louise On Meth" story whenever you have a chance, although to the rest of you I caution to stay as far away from this book as possible.

Out of 10: 8.0, or 9.0 for fans of gonzo erotica

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Permanent Obscurity is a dark story about unrealized dreams that can leave a person (in this novel, artists) searching for ways to break into the (art) world of the "known". It shows how desperation can lead one to make bad choices and how quickly these choices can get out of hand. Before a person realizes it, their life has spiraled downwards and has hit rock bottom. Rock bottom can be death, imprisonment, addiction, or any combination of these. The author, Richard Perez, illustrates this point on many levels. He not only uses his main characters, but includes his minor ones as well. In the end, he successfully interconnects all of them.

This is a well written book that can be classified as a "page turner" - one you cannot put down until you are finished. It is not erotica, but a story involving erotica as an unfortunate goal two females make when they do not know what else to do with their unrealized artistic gifts. Sadly, many young women do take this direction, especially when feeling there are no other alternatives. Richard Perez shows us this dark side of life. A side we do not want to admit exists, but does. In the end, there is no redemption. How can there be, when you are addicted to drugs, the cause of numerous deaths, imprisoned and have a family that has disowned you? You have become your worse nightmare,you have become permanently obscure.

I highly recommend this book. ( )

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read book and fast moving. I enjoyed this story about two girls who decide to make a dirty movie. At first I thought I'd be uncomfortable with the "femdom" stuff, but actually it's not that bad. Rather funny. The whole book is funny, actually -- from Dolores' voice to her relationship with her older boyfriend, Raymond. And what happens when Dolores and Serena finally make the movie has to be read to be believed. Be forewarned: LOTS of cursing, dark humor and drug-taking. I would recommend this to fans of Chuck Palahniuk. "Permanent Obscurity" reads like one of his early novels, especially "Survivor."

[Liza Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Chuck Palahniuk and Elizabeth Wurtzel had a book baby, "Permanent Obscurity" would be it. Perez takes us through the misadventures of two young girls snorting, smoking, stealing and sexing around New York City. Cliche as it may seem, Delores and Serena are a couple of very viable characters - jaded yet vulnerable, they do what they believe they must to survive a life of "the arts". It's hard to believe two girls with such minor-league intentions could get into the shinanigans they do, but it's definitely a wild ride for the reader. A truly entertaining read - makes me want to get my hands on poor Dick's manuscript of the same name. Perhaps someday in the future...?

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An expletive-heavy black comedy of two down-and-out women, Dolores and Serena, who can't help but get into trouble. The narrator, Dolores (also known as "Crazy D"), rules. The most fun I had reading a book in a long, long while. Others have used the word "entertaining" and I agree. Keep in mind, you need to be okay with dirty language, heavy drug use, and elements of BDSM. But it's meant as satire, not to be taken seriously. I highly recommend this book.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not one I would normally read. Having said that it was so good and so addicting (appropriatly so). It was a fast read and one that was hard to put down. I'd say it was a page turner but I read it as an e-book so it was a fast scroll. I've already got a friend reading it! Don't let the cover or the title put you off go ahead with the story it is mind blowing!

[Auntie Raye-Raye · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author very politely suggested I read his book. He said that from my reading list, he thought I'd enjoy it. He was correct. This is a fun, enjoyable read. It's kind of like a book version of a trashy tabloid or an modern version of a 70s sexploitation flick. It's ridiculous in a John Waters way and over the top like a Russ Meyer's film.

This was my "Waiting Room" book. I have a lot of appointments, so this book came with me.The provocative cover certainly works in Perez's favor. Every where I waited, the people around me were curious as to what I was reading.

The storyline drew me in. The 1st 1/2 of the book went by quickly. I enjoyed the characters, especially Dolores and Baby. Dolores, even with some of the demented and distasteful things she does, was still likable & sympathetic to me. Baby was just a completely sweet man. I quite liked the parts where he showed up. I was saddened by what ends up happening to him. Serena kind of irritated me. I was incredulous by how she continually screwed everyone over, but got away with it cause she was a gorgeous woman with a big ass. I didn't entirely understand why every one was so enamored with her.